Typhoon Ineng moving away from RP but rains to continue

Typhoon “Ineng” maintained its strength yesterday as it moved towards Northern Taiwan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The weather bureau raised public storm signal no. 1 over Cagayan, Babuyan Islands and the Batanes Group of Islands.

As of 10 a.m., Ineng was spotted at 600 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan or 610 kms east-southeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph. The storm is forecast to move northwest at 15 kph.

Residents under public storm signal were warned to prepare for big waves generated by the typhoon.

The storm will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) which will bring rains particularly in the western section of the country.

Pagasa advised those living in coastal areas, low lying areas and near mountain slopes to take the necessary precautions against possible big waves, flashfloods and landslides.

Ineng is forecast to be at 460 kms east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 380 kms east of Basco this morning; at 330 kms north-northeast of Basco or 280 kms southeast of Taipei, Taiwan tomorrow morning; and at 60 kms north-northwest of Taipei or 540 kms north-northwest of Basco, by Sunday morning.

Pagasa weather branch chief Nathaniel Cruz said Ineng will intensify but it will not directly affect any part of the country.

Moderate to heavy rains are expected today over extreme Northern Luzon while light to moderate rains will prevail over Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog.

Ineng is the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first this month.

Pagasa earlier said two to three cyclones are expected to enter the Philippines this October.

Cruz earlier warned that tropical cyclones during the latter part of the year are usually intense.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is not giving up search and rescue operations for the 14 missing crewmen of the cargo ship MV Mia, five days after the vessel sank off Palawan after the ill-fated ship encountered bad weather caused by tropical storm “Hanna.”

PCG spokesman Lt. Senior Grade Armand Balilo said the ship sank in a shark-infested area but PCG Vice Admiral Danilo Abinoja gave instructions to continue the search and rescue operations.

Balilo said that Abinoja also ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the mishap.

As of noon yesterday, however, rescue teams have not found any other survivors.

A text message sent by Capt. Jorge Ursabia of the BRP Pampanga said that they found no survivors in the vicinity of Cuyo Island, Cagayancillo and Panay Island.

Of the Mia’s 17 crewmen, only four have been found and were identified as chief mate Roulette Sapaluda, Rey Cabuhay, oiler Marlon Tiguman, and apprentice Richard Abregana. They were rescued last Monday by a passing fishing boat, FB Alister.